Happy Highlights Daily Herald: Boy Scout Jamboree and the 70th Anniversary of D-Day

We've just returned from the Boy Scout Jamboree in Normandy, France commemorating the 70th anniversary of June 6, 1944 - the invasion of the coast of Normandy in World War II.

We camped with 2,000 plus other boy scouts and their leaders at the coast where the invasions took place. Family was invited as well so Emily and I went along.

It was probably one of the hardest camping trips I've ever "survived." It only added to the experience considering the boy scouts were learning about a very somber and horrific time in history for thousands of young soldiers and their loved ones.

So what did I have to complain of? Well, first I need to tell you that it rains 328 days out of the year (according to a local we spoke with) and it usually stays around 50 F (according to the same local - who also said on rare occasion it sometimes gets in the 90's in the summer, and only a day or two).

When we arrived, it was overcast and there was no rain or wind so putting up our tents that first day wasn't so bad. However, that night, reality struck. There was no sleeping for light sleepers (namely me). Monsoon rain hit hard and the sides of our tent whipped back and forth nonstop while water began seeping into our tent.

Emily got very sick in the middle of the night, too. She remained sick the duration of our camp trip - 3 nights and 2 days. Every day she lay in her sleeping bag with a fever and upset stomach. She and I stayed in our tent warm in our sleeping bags while the boy scouts carried on with their program.

The scout leaders were amazing. They woke day by day in this unbelievable weather and forged forward with the scouts. I am amazed to say that they kept up with the rigor of their mission of making this once-in-a-lifetime experience for their scouts as memorable and special as they could.

The first day of the jamboree (Friday) the scouts went to the museum in Caen - a nearby city. This museum is excellent for the information it has on the invasion of Normandy (although it isn't solely a museum about this war). After their visit to the museum in Caen, they went on a historic hike to the Pont de hoc. From their trail above they could see a few remains of the war in cliffs below.

The second day (Saturday) all the scouts went to a cathedral in Caen. They attended a non-denominational worship service where a replica of the liberty bell in Philadelphia was unveiled for the boy scouts. They let one boy scout from each country pull a rope that rang the bell. The bell rang about 7 or 8 times Jay said.

This cathedral is planning to hang this bell among the other bells they have there. The official time of unveiling the bell (and baptizing it - which is what catholics do to their bells - which, of course, I didn't know) will be on the official 70th anniversary of the invasion - June 6. However, it was allowed to be unveiled for the boy scouts at the time of the jamboree - very cool :o)

After the worship service and lunch the boy scouts returned to camp and rested before the last big event. This event was a huge campfire on Omaha beach. Merit badges and various scouting awards were given. Finally, a large stage with huge screens and chairs were set up for speeches and performances. There was a band and choir that performed for everyone. The speeches were given by local government as well as Boy Scouts of America representatives.

Emily and I went to this event. It was the only event she felt well enough to attend. Unfortunately, however, it proved to be too much for her and she was sick all over again that evening.

At the end of this eventful day, a meal was catered for all involved. Wow, that was an amazing feat and they did it very well. After the sun had set and we had all eaten and did our best to stay warm, fireworks went off over the water at the beach side at Omaha beach. The fireworks were fantastic.

The following pictures were what I was able to take during the times of non-rain (which, during the day, there were times of no rain) and when I was actually outside of the tent.